6 Tips to Prepare for Betting on the World Cup

The World Cup is a celebration of the globe’s most popular sport. In America, it’s the time to come together while debating how good the national team would be if our best athletes had chosen soccer over football or basketball.

Although the US might not be the biggest winners, that doesn’t mean sports gamblers are any less enthusiastic about the excitement of this huge event. Here’s a list of five things to keep in mind when betting on the quadrennial tournament.

1. Get Familiar With the Format

While the NCAA Basketball Tournament’s “one and done” style might create more drama for bettors at online sportsbooks, don’t sleep on the World Cup’s betting format. If you aren’t aware of how things are done, I’ll break it down so that you can get properly prepared, and start making a game plan for this epic event.

This often results in teams trying to put up as many goals as possible in the first three games. This can impact your gambling strategy, especially if placing a wager on the total number of goals in a game.

2. Choose Your Bets Wisely

You might be aware of the sports betting basics, but popular strategies for betting on soccer vary slightly from other sports you may be more accustomed to. For example, one of the common bets when it comes to the World Cup is actually a futures bet on the eventual winner of the tournament.

That brings us to our next possible bet, the over/under. Another common wager, over/under lines typically hover around 2.5 to 3 total goals in a game. When deciding on where to place your money, consider past history between the two teams, weather, and what each team needs to do in order to advance in the tournament.

3. The Draw

In case you haven’t considered it (although the constant criticism would suggest most are aware), soccer games can end in a tie. However, since this is a tournament that must crown a winner, ties are relegated the Group Stage.

This might seem contrary to everything Americans think about sports, but you can bet on and subsequently root for a draw.

Some sites will consider a draw, even in one of the games in a parlay, a push.

Some consider it a loss, stating that you must win all of your bets outright in order to cash in. Believe it or not, some will give you a win… Maybe ties aren’t so bad after all. Just makes sure to do the adequate research on how your particular book handles bets when a draw is involved.

4. Study Up

This tip isn’t fancy, and that’s probably why it’s often glossed over by the average weekend sports gambler. In an event that takes place every four years, there’s bound to be some changes within each team’s roster, health, strategy, and momentum.

Additionally, there’s no shortage of experts’ predictions that should not be taken lightly. Plus, let’s be honest, you haven’t been keeping up with the majority of the teams over the past few years.

5. Be Prop-er

Individual statistics, yellow cards, tournament MVP… you name it, there’s a prop bet for it. If the beautiful game alone isn’t enough to keep you entertained with its low-scoring tendencies, prop bets can give you some in-game action to get excited about without needing a scoreboard.

Popular prop bets include choosing which team (or even player) will be the first to record a yellow card, or which players will score the first goal, have the first assist, etc.

One notable bet offered in the 2014 World Cup dealt with noted biter Luis Suarez of Uruguay. Oddsmakers placed 175-1 odds that Suarez would bite an opponent at some point throughout the tournament.

As he sank his teeth into Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in a Group Stage match, lucky bettors everywhere rejoiced. While bets like these might seem like a waste of money, Suarez’s bite reminded us that anything can happen.

6. Find Value

While finding value is not necessarily particular to betting on soccer, the low-scoring nature of the game is important. An unusual play or two can determine the outcome in a way that it might not in a 100-point basketball game.

The goal of oddsmakers is to settle on a number that creates a near-even split on where the money is placed. Again, if you do your research, you can find games that give you a slight advantage in terms of risk vs. reward.

Conclusion

The World Cup is one of the most revered events in sports and can make for a few exciting weeks for gamblers. With its mid-summer timing, it provides a welcome reprieve from baseball for those who are looking to place bets on higher-stakes contests.

Obviously, the teams still compete in qualifying matches in the meantime, but as Americans, these are often overlooked. Find value, stick to your bankroll, and break out the vuvuzelas each time your team covers.